Glossary · Nouns · A
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Apexnounthe point on the celestial sphere toward which the sun and solar system appear to be moving relative to the fixed starsverified
Apex of the Sun's WaynounMWEthe point on the celestial sphere toward which the sun and solar system appear to be moving relative to the fixed starsverified
Aphaeresisnoun(linguistics) omission at the beginning of a word as in `coon' for `raccoon' or `till' for `until'verified
Aphakianounabsence of the natural lens of the eye (usually resulting from the removal of cataracts)verified
Aphanitenounfine-grained homogeneous rock (such as basalt) containing minerals undetectable by the naked eyeverified
Aphasianouninability to use or understand language (spoken or written) because of a brain lesionverified
Apheresisnoun(linguistics) omission at the beginning of a word as in `coon' for `raccoon' or `till' for `until'verified
Aphesisnounthe gradual disappearance of an initial (usually unstressed) vowel or syllable as in `squire' for `esquire'verified
Aphthous UlcernounMWEa blister on the mucous membranes of the lips or mouth or gastrointestinal tractverified
Apical PlacentationnounMWEwhere one or few ovules develop at the top of a simple or compound ovaryverified
Aplacophorannoundeep-water wormlike mollusks lacking calcareous plates on the body but having fine slimy spicules on the covering mantleverified
Aplastic AnaemianounMWEanemia characterized by pancytopenia resulting from failure of the bone marrowverified
Aplastic AnemianounMWEanemia characterized by pancytopenia resulting from failure of the bone marrowverified
Aplitenounlight-colored and fine-grained granitic rock consisting chiefly of quartz and feldsparsverified
Apocrine GlandnounMWEa large sweat gland that produces both a fluid and an apocrine secretionverified
Apodemenounridge-like ingrowth of the exoskeleton of an arthropod that supports internal organs and provides attachment points for musclesverified
Apologeticsnounthe branch of theology that is concerned with the defense of Christian doctrinesverified
Apophatismnounthe religious belief that God cannot be known but is completely `other' and must be described in negative terms (in terms of what God is not)verified
Apophenianounperceiving a pattern or meaning from a stimulus where it does not actually existverified
Apophysisnoun(botany) a natural swelling or enlargement: at the base of the stalk or seta in certain mosses or on the cone scale of certain conifersverified
Apoplexynouna sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brainverified
Apoptosisnouna type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itselfverified
Aposematic ColorationnounMWEconspicuous coloration or markings of an animal serving to warn off predatorsverified
Aposiopesisnounbreaking off in the middle of a sentence (as by writers of realistic conversations)verified
Apostasynounthe state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes)verified
Apostolic DelegatenounMWE(Roman Catholic Church) a representative of the Holy See in a country that has no formal diplomatic relations with itverified
Apostrophenounthe mark (') used to indicate the omission of one or more letters from a printed wordverified
Apothecaries' OuncenounMWEa unit of apothecary weight equal to 480 grains or one twelfth of a poundverified
Appanagenouna grant (by a sovereign or a legislative body) of resources to maintain a dependent member of a ruling familyverified
Apparatchiknouna humorous but derogatory term for an official of a large organization, especially a political organizationverified
Apparatus UrogenitalisnounMWEthe system that includes all organs involved in reproduction and in the formation and voidance of urineverified
Apparent MotionnounMWEan optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving objectverified
Apparent MovementnounMWEan optical illusion of motion produced by viewing a rapid succession of still pictures of a moving objectverified
Appeal BoardnounMWEa board of officials that are not judicial but are appointed to hear appealsverified
Appeals BoardnounMWEa board of officials that are not judicial but are appointed to hear appealsverified
Appeals CourtnounMWEa court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agenciesverified